Uniboard's Mont-Laurier mill now CARB Phase 2 certified for MDF products

LAVAL, July 6 /PRNewswire/ - Uniboard(TM), a North American leader of manufactured engineered wood products, is pleased to announce that its Mont-Laurier, Quebec manufacturing facility has been certified by the Composite Panel Association (CPA) to meet California Air Resources Board (CARB) Phase 2 emissions standards for the production of MDF panels.

"The certification of our Mont-Laurier mill is one of the final steps towards bringing our full North American operations into compliance with CARB Phase 2," said Lise Plante, Product Manager, Uniboard. "This certification sets us apart from our competitors and signals to our customers that they can continue to count on Uniboard to meet their needs once the new regulations come into effect."

The announcement that CARB Phase 2 compliant MDF panels are now being produced at Uniboard's Mont-Laurier mill comes well in advance of the enforcement of the new standards, which take effect on January 1, 2011. With this certification, the Mont-Laurier mill joins the Company's Sayabec and Val-d'Or mills in Quebec as well as its Moncure, North Carolina particleboard production facility, which are already in compliance with CARB Phase 2 standards.

In 2008, the State of California adopted a resolution to address formaldehyde exposure from composite wood products through the establishment of emissions controls. The new law set upper limits on formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products sold in the state or used to make finished goods offered for sale in the state. The first phase of the regulation, known as CARB Phase 1, took effect on January 1, 2009. All Uniboard products have been in 100% compliance with CARB Phase 1 since November 1, 2008.

Like all Uniboard products, panels produced at the Mont-Laurier mill are made using 100% pre-consumer recycled or recovered wood fiber, which saves trees and avoids landfill. The Mont-Laurier mill is also FSC certified (Forest Stewardship Council) and EPP certified (Environmentally Preferable Product by the Composite Panel Association).

About Uniboard

Uniboard Inc., a subsidiary of Pfleiderer AG, is (a/the) leading North American manufacturer of engineered wood products, with installed capacity of over 1.1 billion square feet of raw particleboard, high density and medium density fiberboard, of which over 50% is converted into value added melamine and laminated flooring products. Its products are sold to retailers, distributors and finished goods manufacturers, which cater to the kitchen cabinet industry, the furniture industry, the renovation and construction industries, as well as to the floor covering industry. Uniboard is the largest supplier of thermofused melamine panels in North America. More information at: www.uniboard.com

About Pfleiderer:

SDAX-listed Pfleiderer AG (ISIN DE 0006764749) is one of the world's leading producers of engineered wood. The company employs approximately 5,600 people and operates 22 sites in North America, Western and Eastern Europe producing engineered wood, surface finished products and laminate flooring. Pfleiderer is a preferred partner of the furniture industry, specialist and home improvement stores, and interior design suppliers. In fiscal year 2009, the Group generated consolidated revenues of approximately (euro)1.4 billion and EBITDA after restructuring costs of approximately (euro)100 million. More information at: www.pfleiderer.com

SOURCE UNIBOARD CANADA INC.